Warning system for an intersection

Abstract

A warning system for pedestrian and vehicular traffic that can warn pedestrians and drivers of an emergency vehicle that is approaching a road intersection. The current warning system is multimodal and uses different modes and colors to indicate the type of approaching emergency vehicle. Flashing devices are mounted to fixtures associated with currently available traffic light configurations.

1 . A visible warning system for a road intersection, wherein said visible warning system is capable of indicating an emergency vehicle is proximate a commercially available traffic light configuration controlling pedestrian and vehicular traffic associated with said road intersection; said visible warning system comprising:
 a) a plurality of LED units positioned about said road intersection and visible to said pedestrian and vehicular traffic, wherein said LED units:
 i) on activation, flash visible warnings comprising at least two distinct colors for identifying a specific type of said emergency vehicle and/or a different color from said at least two distinct colors for indicating said visible warning system is activating; and 
 ii) are powered by a power supply also supplying said commercially available traffic light configuration; 
   b) a transmitter carried by an emergency vehicle and powered by said emergency vehicle's electrical system, wherein, upon activation of said transmitter, transmission of a single preselected FCC approved analog frequency carrying a predetermined activation code is broadcast away from said emergency vehicle, and wherein said classification of said emergency vehicle determines said predetermined activation code;   c) a receiver powered by said power supplying said commercially available traffic light configuration and/or a solar panel and an energy storage unit combination, wherein said receiver is synchronized to said single preselected FCC approved analog frequency and operates independently of said commercially available traffic light configuration such that said receiver does not alter operation of said commercially available traffic light configuration and said commercially available traffic light configuration does not alter operation of said receiver, wherein said receiver comprises:
 i) a weather resistant housing; 
 ii) an antenna for detecting as little as about 0.2 millivolt associated with reception of said single preselected FCC approved analog frequency; 
 iii) a first relay for activating said plurality of LED units to flash in a first mode, wherein said first mode includes a first color and a second color; 
 iv) a second relay for activating said plurality of LED units to flash in a second mode, wherein said second mode excludes either said first color or said second color and utilizes a third color; 
 v) a threshold determiner preventing activation of any of said relays until said emergency vehicle's transmitter has reached a preselected distance from said receiver; 
 vi) optionally, a third relay for activating said plurality of LED units to flash a third mode comprising a different color than said first mode or said second mode; and 
 vii) a controller energizing one or more of said relays on detection of said predetermined code and after a predetermined threshold of potential associated with said single preselected FCC approved analog frequency radio frequency broadcast by said emergency vehicle's transmitter is exceeded; and 
   d) one or more lines connecting said controller to each of said plurality of LED units.   
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein LED units are positioned on fixtures associated with said commercially available traffic light configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 3 , wherein said emergency vehicle's transmitter is capable of causing said receiver to energize one or more of said relays from a distance of up to about 305 meters from said receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 3 , wherein said single preselected FCC approved analog frequency comprises about 433 megahertz. 
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 4  further comprising means for energizing one or more of said relays for about two seconds after said emergency vehicle's transmitter's radio frequency transmission has ceased to activate said controller. 
     
     
         6 . A visible warning system capable of generating a multimodal visible flash to warn pedestrians and vehicles that an emergency vehicle is approaching an intersection; said visible warning system comprising:
 a) a plurality of lighting devices positioned about said intersection with a commercially available traffic light configuration, wherein each of said lighting devices comprises at least three zones of lights having distinct hues and is powered by a power supply supplying said commercially available traffic light configuration, and wherein on activation, said lighting devices flash at least two distinct hues for identifying a specific type of said emergency vehicle;   b) a transmitter carried by an emergency vehicle and powered by said emergency vehicle's electrical system, wherein, upon activation of said transmitter, transmission of a single preselected FCC approved analog frequency carrying a predetermined activation code is broadcast away from said emergency vehicle, and wherein said classification of said emergency vehicle determines said predetermined activation code;   c) a receiver powered by said power supplying said commercially available traffic light configuration and/or a solar panel and an energy storage unit combination, wherein said receiver is synchronized to said single preselected FCC approved analog frequency and operates independently of said commercially available traffic light configuration such that said receiver does not alter operation of said commercially available traffic light configuration and said commercially available traffic light configuration does not alter operation of said receiver, wherein said receiver comprises:
 i) a weather resistant housing; 
 ii) an antenna for detecting as little as about 0.2 millivolt associated with reception of said single preselected FCC approved analog frequency; 
 iii) a first relay for activating said plurality of lighting devices to flash a first hued zone of and a second hued zone; 
 iv) a second relay for activating said plurality of lighting devices to flash a third hued zone and either said first hued zone or said second hued zone; 
 v) optionally, a third relay for activating said plurality of lighting devices to flash a hued zone other than said first, second or third zones; and 
 vi) a controller energizing one or more of said relays on detection of said predetermined code and after a predetermined threshold of potential associated with said single preselected FCC approved analog frequency radio frequency broadcast by said emergency vehicle's transmitter is exceeded; and 
   d) one or more lines connecting said receiver to each of said lighting devices.   
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 6 , wherein said lighting devices are positioned on fixtures associated with said commercially available traffic light configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 7  further comprising a threshold determiner preventing activation of any of said relays until said emergency vehicle's transmitter has reached a preselected distance from said receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 8 , wherein said emergency vehicle's transmitter is capable of causing said receiver to energize one or more of said relays from a distance of up to about 305 meters from said receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of lighting devices comprises LED units. 
     
     
         11 . The invention of  claim 10 , wherein preselected FCC approved analog frequency comprises about 433 megahertz. 
     
     
         12 . A visible warning system associated with a commercially available traffic light configuration controlling pedestrian and vehicular traffic about an intersection, wherein said visible warning system is capable of generating multimodal visible flashes to warn said pedestrian and vehicular traffic that an emergency vehicle is approaching said intersection; said visible warning system comprising:
 a) a plurality of colored lights units positioned on one or more fixtures of said commercially available traffic light configuration, wherein said plurality of colored lights units are additional to any lighting device customarily accompanying said commercially available traffic light configuration;   b) a transmitter carried by an emergency vehicle and powered by said emergency vehicle's electrical system, wherein, upon activation of said transmitter, transmission of a single preselected FCC approved analog frequency carrying a predetermined activation code is broadcast away from said emergency vehicle, and wherein said classification of said emergency vehicle determines said predetermined activation code;   c) a receiver powered by said power supplying said commercially available traffic light configuration and/or a solar panel and an energy storage unit combination, wherein said receiver is synchronized to said single preselected FCC approved analog frequency and operates independently of said commercially available traffic light configuration such that said receiver does not alter operation of said commercially available traffic light configuration and said commercially available traffic light configuration does not alter operation of said receiver, wherein said receiver comprises:
 i) a weather resistant housing; 
 ii) a controller for detecting said predetermined activation code such that after a predetermined threshold of potential associated with said single preselected FCC approved analog frequency radio frequency broadcast by said emergency vehicle's transmitter is exceeded said controller activates said plurality of colored lights units to flash a first predetermined pattern or a second predetermined pattern, wherein said predetermined flashing patterns are determined by said predetermined activation code, and 
   d) one or more lines connecting said controller to each of said colored light units.   
     
     
         13 . The invention of  claim 12 , wherein each said colored lights units comprises zones of lights of distinct hues. 
     
     
         14 . The invention of  claim 13  further comprising a threshold determiner preventing activation of any of said colored lights until said emergency vehicle's transmitter is within a preselected distance from said receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The invention of  claim 14 , wherein said first flash pattern comprises a first distinct hue and a second distinct hue and said second flash pattern comprises a third distinct hue and either said first hue or said second hue. 
     
     
         16 . The invention of  claim 15 , wherein said controller activates said plurality of colored lights units to flash a third predetermined pattern comprising a hue that is distinct from said first, second and third hues. 
     
     
         17 . The invention of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of color lights units devices comprises LED units. 
     
     
         18 . The invention of  claim 17 , wherein said emergency vehicle's transmitter is capable of causing said receiver to energize one or more of said relays from a distance of up to about 305 meters from said receiver. 
     
     
         19 . The invention of  claim 18 , wherein preselected FCC approved analog frequency comprises about 433 megahertz.